2021 Château Lauriga Muscat de Rivesaltes

Domaines Paul Mas was founded in 1892. The current owner, Jean-Claude Mas, is without doubt the pioneer in the revival of the Languedoc as a region for quality wines. Jean-Claude characterizes his wines as 'Le Luxe Rural', rural luxury. With international grape varieties he has given Languedoc a 'new world' allure. And with his fashionable wines from local grapes, he has made the local character of the Languedoc hip again among wine lovers. Hubrecht Duijker rightly calls Jean-Claude Mas a 'wine wizard' and at Grandcruwijnen we are the only one in the Netherlands to also carry the high-end Grandcrus of Paul Mas.

The Laurinya of du Château Lauriga belongs to Domaines Paul Mas but is a real Château. Château Lauriga was originally an authentic family estate, which has long been owned by the French-Catalan Clar family. A few years ago, Jean-Claude Mas was given the opportunity to take over the family estate. The dessert wine (Vin Doux Naturel) from Chateau Lauriga is made from the Muscat grape coming from a vineyard in Roussillon, in the south of France. The terroir is characterized by clay, limestone and gravel. The grapes are destemmed as soon as they arrive in the cellar and immediately gently pressed. Fermentation takes place at controlled temperature. Neutral alcohol is added during fermentation to stop the fermentation and achieve the desired sweetness. The wine then matures for a long time in oak barrels of 225 liters, where the wine is in contact with oxygen: this allows the wine to develop unique aromas.

The scent is intense with notes of citrus fruit, menthol, white flowers and tropical fruit and with candied citrus peel and sweet spices. What is certainly striking is the freshness that the wine has and especially keeps. In the mouth this is a layered wine. with plums, eau-de-vie, orange blossom and spices. Highly recommended as a sweet aperitif and as a dessert wine. Delicious with crumbled cheese with walnuts and of course with foie gras